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Zhao H, Yan F. Retinal Organoids: A Next-Generation Platform for High-Throughput Drug Discovery. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:495-508. [PMID: 38079086 PMCID: PMC10837228 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Retinal diseases are leading causes of blindness globally. Developing new drugs is of great significance for preventing vision loss. Current drug discovery relies mainly on two-dimensional in vitro models and animal models, but translation to human efficacy and safety is biased. In recent years, the emergence of retinal organoid technology platforms, utilizing three-dimensional microenvironments to better mimic retinal structure and function, has provided new platforms for exploring pathogenic mechanisms and drug screening. This review summarizes the latest advances in retinal organoid technology, emphasizing its application advantages in high-throughput drug screening, efficacy and toxicity evaluation, and translational medicine research. The review also prospects the combination of emerging technologies such as organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, single cell sequencing, gene editing with retinal organoid technology, which is expected to further optimize retinal organoid models and advance the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Eye Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Fei Yan
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Basic Medicine School, Kunming Medical University, 1168 Yuhua Street, Chunrong West Road, Chenggong District, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
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Gong Y, Ge L, Li Q, Gong J, Chen M, Gao H, Kang J, Yu T, Li J, Xu H. Ethanol Causes Cell Death and Neuronal Differentiation Defect During Initial Neurogenesis of the Neural Retina by Disrupting Calcium Signaling in Human Retinal Organoids. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:2790-2806. [PMID: 37603136 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) affects a significant proportion, exceeding 90%, of afflicted children, leading to severe ocular aberrations such as microphthalmia and optic nerve hypoplasia. During the early stages of pregnancy, the commencement of neural retina neurogenesis represents a critical period for human eye development, concurrently exposing the developing retinal structures to the highest risk of prenatal ethanol exposure due to a lack of awareness. Despite the paramount importance of this period, the precise influence and underlying mechanisms of short-term ethanol exposure on the developmental process of the human neural retina have remained largely elusive. In this study, we utilize the human embryonic stem cells derived retinal organoids (hROs) to recapitulate the initial retinal neurogenesis and find that 1% (v/v) ethanol slows the growth of hROs by inducing robust cell death and retinal ganglion cell differentiation defect. Bulk RNA-seq analysis and two-photon microscope live calcium imaging reveal altered calcium signaling dynamics derived from ethanol-induced down-regulation of RYR1 and CACNA1S. Moreover, the calcium-binding protein RET, one of the downstream effector genes of the calcium signaling pathway, synergistically integrates ethanol and calcium signals to abort neuron differentiation and cause cell death. To sum up, our study illustrates the effect and molecular mechanism of ethanol on the initial neurogenesis of the human embryonic neural retina, providing a novel interpretation of the ocular phenotype of FAS and potentially informing preventative measures for susceptible populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gong
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Department of Ophthalmology, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingling Ge
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiyou Li
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Gong
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Min Chen
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Gao
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Kang
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 89th Hospital of The People's Liberation Army, Weifang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiawen Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Southwest Hospital/ Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China.
- Key Lab of Visual Damage and Regeneration & Restoration of Chongqing, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
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